Automatic stop for printing machines



May 6, 1 930. J. E. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 20, 1923 Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PAEN li'FlCE JOHN E. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 SPEEDAUIVLAT MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PRINTING MACHINES Application filed January 20, 1923.

This invention relates to an automatic stop for printing machinery. I

One object of this invention is to provlde a means. for automatically stopping the operation of electrically operated printing machines such as addressing or mailing machines and other mechanisms of similar nature that in the course of their operation make use of address mats or plates which are antomatically fed through a guide-way.

After all the address mats or plates have been fed past a predetermined point, and the source of supply of plates becomes exhausted, or when because of the failure of some part of the mechanism the address plates become jammed or caught and are not properly fed through the machine, it is desirable to automatically stop the machine in order to avoid waste of power or further damage to the mechanism. The object of this machine is to accomplish sucha result in a dependable manner with a comparatively simple mechanism having a small number of parts which do not easily get out of repair.

Further objects will appear upon reference to the following specification and claims and to the accompanying drawings in wh1ch- Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism comprising the invention, showing the device applied to a printing machine with which it is used;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and,

Figs. 3 and .4 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 1.

The essential portions of the invention as illustrated in the drawings include a printing machine A, the operation of which it is desired to automatically control, an address plate guide and rack B through which address plates or the like are fed into operating position in the machine, a rotating cam shaft C forming an operating part of the machine,

- I a switch actuating mechanism at D (Fig. 2)

and a switch E actuated thereby for controlling the circuit of the operating motor of the machine.

The address plate guide B comprises a support bar 10, having an opening 11, through Serial No. 613,806.

which passes a needle 12 for contacting with the under side of an address plate such as shown at 13. The through an opening guide 15 secured to guide B.

The needle 12 is supported at an end 16 of a bell-crank 17 which in turn is fixed upon a rotatable shaft 18. The shaft 18 is mounted in a bearing block 19 secured to a cross bar 20 of the machine A by screws 21. Also secured to the shaft 18 is a lever 22 pivotally connected at 23 to a connecting rod 2 1 which serves to operate the switch E.

A lower end 25 of the bell-crank 17 is made heavier than the end 16 and consequently the end 16 and the needle 12 tend to rise until the needle contacts with the under side of an address plate 13.

However, at such times as the position of the address plates is being changed along the guide B or when a new address plate is about to slide into operating position, it is necessary to retain the needle 12 in the position shown in Fig. 2 to prevent it from rising Sllffieiently to interfere with the proper movement of the address plates.

To accomplish this result the cam shaft G is provided with a cam 26 having a surface contacting with the end 25 of the bell-crank 17. With the parts in the positions as shown in Fig. 2, an address plate is directly over the opening 11 and, consequently, is in position to hold the upper end of the needle flush with the support bar 10.

The cam 26 is provided with a flat portion 27 so that with the parts in the position shown, the cam does not make contact with the end of the bell-crank. At all other times, however, such as when the address plates are being replaced, the cam 26 contacts with and supports the end of the bell-crank. It will be understood that the cam shaft- C is associated with the mechanism operating the address plates in such a manner that the cam26 is rotated into contact with the bellcrank at such times as the address plates are being replaced. The correct adjustment of the cam 26 to produce this result may be obtained by 14 formed in a needle the under side of the needle 12 also passes turning the cam to the proper angle upon the shaft C and then fixing the cam at this position by a set-screw 26.

If, however, for any reason the source of supplyof address plates becomes exhausted or when because of the failure of some part of the mechanism the address plates become jammed or caught, then the absence of an address plate coveringthe end of the needle 12 will permit the needle to rise together with the end 16 of the bell-crank.

Thisunotion at this particular time will not be hindered by the'cam 26 since the flat surface 27 will be opposite the end 25 of the bell-crank. The bell-crank will thus be permitted to turn the shaft 18 which will move the lever 22 and the attached connecting rod 24 to the left in Fig. 2. This travel of the connecting rod will serve to operate the switch E for opening the circuit of the operating motor of the machine A.

The switch E as shown in the drawings now be more fully described.

A switch housing 28 composed preferably of insulatin material and having a cover 28 is mounted upon a bracket 29 which in turn is fixed upon a side frame 30 of the machine A by screws 31. The connecting rod 24 is provided with a sliding bearing 29 upon the bracket 29.

A commutator shaft 32 is mounted centrally of the housing 28 and serves to rotatably support a commutator 33. The commutator 33 is fixed to the shaft 32 by a set screw 34 and is provided at its periphery with a conducting segment 35 attached by screws 36. Terminals 37 and 38 to the motor circuit are fixed by screws 39 and 40 respectively to spring contacts 40 and 41 which press against the com mutator 33. The spring contacts 40 and 41 are fixed to the interior wall of the housing 28 and with the commutator in the position illustrated serve to complete a circuit through the segment 35. However, if the commutator and segment are turned slightly in a clock-wise direction, the contact 41 will leave the surface of the segment and thus thecircuit will be opened at this point. The contact 40 remains in contact with the segment at all times.

A pawl lever 42 is pivotally attached at 43 to the housing 28 and is provided with a pin 44 at one end for contacting with a similar pin 45 fixed in the connecting rod 24.

The shaft 32 extends to the exterior of the back of the housing 28 and is there provided with a disc 46 fixed thereto by a set screw 47. The disc 46 is provided at its periphery with a notch 48 which by its coaction with a pin 49 fixed in the housing 28 serves to limit the turning movement of the shaft 32 and the commutator 33. The disc 46 is also provided with a notch 50 which maybe engaged by a pawl 51 formed upon the lever 42.

The pawl 51 is normally retained in enwill gagement with the notch 50 by a coil spring 52 fixed at one end to the pawl and at the other end to the disc 46.

However, when the connecting rod 24 is moved to the left in Fig. 2 in response to the ctuation of the mechanism D, the pin45 engages the pin 44 and, consequently, the pawl 51 is thrown out of contact with the notch 50. The force of the spring 52 thereupon turns the disc 46 and the commutator 33 from the normal circuit closing position shown to the circuit opening position above described. As a result, the power to the motor will be disconnected and the machine A will be brought automatically to a stop.

A knob 53 is provided upon the shaft 32 exteriorly of the housing 28 and provides a means for restoring the switch and pawl lever 42 to their normal positions when the printing machine is to be again started in operation.

While I have described one form of my invention it is understood that I do not desire to have any limitation imposed thereupon exept as specifically set forth in the appended claims, or required by the prior art, since mechanical expedients or equivalents of the various elements may be evolved which come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Fatent in the United States, is;

1. A device for automatically stopping an addressing machine comprising an address plate guideway, a bell crank, a needle member supported on said bell crank and normally urged by said bell crank into said guideway at a point anterior of the address printing position, switching means connected to said bell crank, and a rotating cam for c0n-' tacting directly with said bell crank at predetermined times for withdrawing said needle from said guidewayor for preventing the entrance of said needle into'said guideway.

2. Means for controlling a'rotatableswitch element comprising a notched disc fixed to said element, a pivoted pawl for engaging said notched disc, means for tripping said pawl at predetermined times, and spring means tending to retain said pawl in engagement with said disc but serving to rotate said disc and element after the tripping of said pawl.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN JOHNSON. 

